CA1200443A

CA1200443A - Decorative surface coverings and process for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: CA1200443A
Application number: CA000411045A
Authority: CA
Inventors: John W. Wiley; David Wang; Charles H. Brower
Original assignee: Mannington Mills Inc
Current assignee: Mannington Mills Inc
Priority date: 1981-09-21
Filing date: 1982-09-09
Publication date: 1986-02-11
Also published as: US4409280A; AU552329B2; NZ201638A; AU8770582A

Abstract

Abstract of the Invention There is disclosed a process for manufacturing surface coverings including the steps of printing a design on a base layer; overlying the printed base layer with a coating of sub-stantially transparent or translucent material; printing a subsequent design using an ink including decorative particles on such transparent or translucent overlying material; and over-lying the ink printed design with a substantially transparent or translucent material prior to subsequent processing, such as heat curing to ensure an effectively fused produce of the resulting surface covering. The present invention may include the required processing steps of chemical or mechanical embossing as more clearly hereinafter described.

Description

Decorative Surface Coverings and Process for ~anufacturiny Same Field of Invention:
This invention relates to decorative surface coverings, and more par-ticularly to decorative surface coverings having embossed surfaces for use as floor, wall and ceiling coverings, desk, table and counter tops; sur:Eace layers on leather, fabrics, paper, wood, metals, glass, etc; upholstery, drapery, and clothing materials; interiors for cars, trucks, boa-ts, airplanes, and other means of transporta-tion; covers for books and other publications;
and like articles.
Backqround of -the Inven-tion Decorative surface coatings have been manufactured for many years. In United States Paten-t No. 3,660,187 to Shortway et.
al, there are disclosed processes for incorporating small decorative chips or flakes of various colors and hues in the wear layer of a floor covering. These relatively small decorative chips or flakes of various hues and colors are included and are present substantially uniformly visible or discernible by persons viewing the resilient floor covering. When a pattern or design is provided in the resilient floor covering, the relatively small decorative chips or flakes of various colors and hues are visible and discernible in substantially all parts of the pattern or design. And, if the resilien-t floor covering is of the embossed type, whether chemically embossed, mechanically embossed, or otherwise, the relatively small decorative chips or flakes are visible and discernible in both the raised and depressed portions of the resilient embossed floor covering.
This substantially uniform appearance of the eye-catching, rela-tively small decorative particles, chips or flakes is normally not undesirable or objectionable but sometimes there are occasions when it is desired that -the decora-tive particles chips or flakes be limited or confined to cer-tain selected portions of the pattern or design, or to certain raisecl or depressed portions, if an embossed or textured type of resilient floor covering is involved~ This is rather difficult to accomp-lish, inasmuch as the easiest and mos-t economical way to include the decorative chips or particles in the product is simply to incorporate such decorative chips or particles in the formulation of the wearlayer whereby such decorative chips or particles become substantially uniformily dispersed during the mixing of the formulation subsequently applied to the main portion of the resilient floor covering.
In United States Patent No. ~,126,727 to Kaminski, there are diselosed proeesses for overcoming the problems of the visible and discernible partieles, chips or flakes in all parts of the pattern or design wherein the relatively small, eye-catehing deeorative partieles, ehips or flakes of various colors and hues may be incorporated substantially uniformly in the wearlayer during formulation and mixing, but wherein such relatively small, eye-eatching deeorative partieles, ehips or flakes are diseernible or visible only in those portions where it is desired to be diseernible or visible and be indiseernible or invisible in those o-ther portions where their appearance is not desired or required.
Such processes included the uniform distribution of decorative particles, ehips or flakes, over the full surfaee area and thus exeessive deeorative partieles requirements for any design. Additionally, the latter diselosure demanded excess proeessing requirements, i.e. extrusion of a sheet of a blend of decorative particle in a resinous base followed by granulation of the thus formed sheet prior to blending such granulated particles in another resinous base preparatory to extrusion or calendaring of a sheet of the blended granula-ted par-tieles for J - 2 ~

;~.2~

overlylng a gelled printed foamable resinous polymer composition.
Objects oE the_ nvention An object of the present invention is to provide a novel process for forming decorative surface coverings.
Another objec-t of the present invention is to provide a novel process for forming decorative surface coverings perrr,it-ting of reduced decorative particle requirements.
Still another object oE the present invention is to provide a novel process for forming decorative surface coverings of improved three dimensional aesthetic effects.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel process for forming decorative surface coverings of simplified processing requirements.
A still further object of -the present invention is to provide a novel process for forming decorative surface coverings permitting of decorative designs of more closely registered sequences.
Yet another object of the present invention is to pro-vide a novel process for forming decorative surface coverings permitting of substantially improved production rates.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel decorative surface covering.
Surnmary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for manufacturing a surface covering, which comprises: (a) applying a base design on a substrate; (b) overlying said base design with a coating of substantially translucent to transparen-t non-foamable material; (c) selective-ly depositing in a subse~uent design an ink containing decora-tive particles on said initial coating of said substantially translucent to transparent material; (d) overlying said subse-quent design with a second coating of a substantially trans--- 3 ~

lucent to transparent ma-teri.al to form a composite surface cover-ing; and (e) curing said composite of step (d) to forrn said sur~ace covering.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided the process for manufacturing a surface covering, which comprises: (a) applying a base design on a substrate ~herein said substrate comprises a sheet material coated with a heat-foamable resinous composition and heated sufficiently to produce a gel layer before printing of the base design and which heat-foamable resinous composition foams during the curing step; (b)overlying said base design wlth a coating of substantially trans-lucent to transparent non-foarnable material; (c) selectively de-positing in a subsequent design an ink containing decorative par-ticles on said initial coating of said substantially translucent to transparent material; (d) overlying said subsequent design with a second coating of a substantially translucent to trans-parent material to form a composite surface covering; and (e) curing said composite of step (d) to form said surface covering.
A~cording to a further aspect of the invention -there is provided a surface covering, which comprises: (a) a substrate;
(b) a base design on said substrate; (c) a coating of substant-ially translucent to transparent non-foamable material overlying said base design; (d) a subsequent design of an ink con'caining decorative particles selectively deposited on said substantially translucent to transparent material, and (e) a second coating of a substantially translucent to transparent material overlying said subsequent design to form a composite surface covering.
According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a surface covering, which comprises: (a) a base design on a substrate wherein said substrate comprises a sheet material coated ~ith a neat-foamable resinous composition, the heat-foamable resinous composition upon sufficient heatlng producing a gel layer beEore printing of the base design, and the resinous composition foaming during curing' (b) a coating of subs-tantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material ~;
overlying said base design; (c) a subsequent design of an ink containing decorative particles selectively deposited on said substantially translucent to transparent material; and (d) a second coating of a substantially translucent to transparent material overlying said subsequent design to form a composite surface covering.
Description of the Drawing Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the process of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an intermediate product of the process of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a final product of the process of the present invention.
Figures 2 and 3 have not been drawn precisely to exact scale. Some portions -thereof have been drawn to a slightly larger scale, whereas certain other portions thereof have been drawn to a sliyhtly smaller scale. This has been done -to `~ amplify more clearly the details of the smaller portions and to accentuate some of the more important features of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention Although the presenl invention relates to decorative ; 30 surface coverings encompassing floor/ wall and ceiling coverings and the like, the following detailed description relates to a a preferred embodiment of the present invention related to embossed sheet vinyl floor coverings. Methods of achieving embossed sheet vinyl floor covering include chemical embossing by the use of the hereinabove discussed known printing techni-ques to produce a printed deslgn, or silk screen method of apply-ing different plastisols -to produce an inlaid design.
Figure 1 illustrates the stepwise processing procedures of manufacturing chemically embossed sheet vinyl flooring of the present invention. In producing chemically embossed sheet vinyl floor covering a relatively flat, backing sheet material 11 is employed as the base portion of the product. Mormally such backing sheet material 11 may be a felted or matted fibrous sheet; a non-woven or woven constructed fabric; a release paper;
or like sheet materials. Fibrous sheet materials comprising inorganic ~ibers, such as asbestos; or organic fibers r such as cellulose; or synthetic or man-made fibers and/or filaments, such as non-woven fiberglass, are the most popular backing sheet materials~ but many others are suitable and utilizable, and are set forth in the previously cited Vnited States Patent and in the references to be hereinafter cited. To overcome problems of porosity, absorbency and dimensional stability, a sizing coat and barrier coat, such as vinyl plastisol dispersion; paint, such as organic solvent or latex base; lacquer or the like, may be applied to the backing sheet material 11 as shown in E'igure 2.
Following the preparation of the backing sheet material 11, a foamable resinous composition layer is then applied. The formulation and preparation of the foamable resinous composition are known in the art and are dependen-t on the type of product to be produced. For chemically embossed vinyl sheet floor covering, the foamable resinous cornposition contains portions of many constituents. For example, synthetic resin, such as a polymer or a co-polymer of vinyl chloride; a blowing or foarning agent, such as azodicarbonamide; various accelerators or ';'' /~

catalysts, such as dibasic lead phosphate or zinc oxlde, to lower the decomposition temperature of the blowing or foaming agent or to narrow the decomposition temperature range; stabil-izers to reduce the harmful effec-ts of degradation due to light, heat, etc.; primary and secondary plasticizers such as butyl benzyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate and dodeceyl benzene re-spectively; pigments and fillers, such as titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate; and other conventional and well-known additives.
Althougll a medium molecular weight polymer or a copoly~
mer of vinyl chloride is the preferred synthetic resin to be in-corporated in the foamable resinous polymer composition, many other synthetic resins of appropriate molecular weights are equally utilizable. Many of such other suitable synthetic resins are set forth in the previous mentioned United States Patents cited herein May 13, 1985. Azodicarbonamide is indicated as the preferxed blowing or foaming agent, but many ot~er equivalent blowing and foaming agents are also applicable to the principles of the present invention. Many of such other blowing and foam-ing agents are also set forth in the United States Patents cited herein and reference thereto are incorporated herein. Similarly, many other accelerators, catalysts, viscosity modifiers, light and heat stabilizers, ~V absorbers, plasticizers, pigments, antioxidants, bacteriostats and bacteriocides, and other additives may be included in the resinous polymer composition.
The specific nature and the particular physical and chemical characteristics as well as the properties of the various con-stituents of the foamable resinous composition do not relate to the essence or critical features of the present invention and further specific elaboration is not believed necessary.
The foamable resinous composition is applied to the backing sheet material 11 substantially uniformly by reverse 1' ~2)~

roll coating, knife coating, air knife, flexible blade or by other procedures known in the industry. The thickness of the applied foamable resinous composi-tion is dependent upon the specifications of the surface covering to be manufactured; nor-mally the range is between 7 and 30 mils of wet application.
After coating of the backing sheet material 11 with the foamable resinous composition layer, the combination is heated in an oven for a period of time at a temperature sufficient to gel the foamable resinous composition but not sufficiently high enough to activate or to decompose the blowing or foaming agent present in the Eoamable resinous composition. Such layer is then cooled forming a pre-gel 13~ which together with the backing sheet material 11 forms a base layer, generally indicated as 14.
The base layer 14 may then be printed with printing ink compositions as indicated as 15 in Figure 2, in a desired design and with the desired colors. Techniques to accomplish this in-clude direct or indirect rotogravure printing, offset printing, flexographics or screen printing. For chemical embossing, at least one of the prlnting ink compositions 15 contain a blowing agent modifier which applied to the pre-gel 13 and after total processing cause differential blowing in those areas of a pre-gel 13, yielding a desired textural effect. The printing ink composi-tion containing the blowing agent modifier indicated as 17 in Figures 2 and 3.
Typical well-known and conventional printing ink com-positions 15 with and without blowing agent modifiers are to be noted in the rJnited States Patents cited herein and further speci-fic elaboration thereof is not believed necessary or required.
After the base layer 14 is printed with the printing ink compositions 15 and 17 forming the first printed pattern layer, generally indicated as 19 the composite is dried in an 3L~

oven and i.s then ready for application tllereto of a first wear-layer plastisol composition which after required heating will become a first wearlayer 21. Normally, the first wearlayer plas-tisol composition is applied wet in the range of from 5 to 25 mils, preferably 10 to 15 mils for maximum visual effect.
The first wearlayer plastisol composition is formulated from a synthetic resin, such as a polymer or a copolymer of vinyl chloride, preferably a high molecular weight polyvinyl chloride, to which synthetic resin is added well~known and conventional agents, such as plasticizers, light and heat stabilizers, W
absorbers, solvents, etc. Such constituents are similar to the constituents found in the foamable resinous composition, except that blowing agents or opaque materials are not included in the formulation. After the firs-t wearlayer plastisol composition is heated and fused to the pre-gel 13, at a temperature suffi-cient to cause blowing of the foamable resinous composition, there is formed a translucent or transparent, first wearlayer 21.
The wearlayer 21 is then cooled in preparation for printing with a second pigmented ink composition 23.
The techniques of printing on the first wearlayer 21 are the same as previously descri~ed for printing on the base layer 14. The pigmented ink compositions 23 can be applied in an overall pattern on the first wearlayer 19 or they can be applied in registration with the design of the first printed layer 19 applied on the base layer 14~ The pigmented inks 23 contain pigment bases including nacreous or pearlescent particles, metallic flakes or the like. The inclusion of any particular pigment base is dependent on the desired effect.
Followillg application and drying of the pigmented ink compositions 23 forming a second printed pattern layer 25, a se-cond wearlayer plastisol composition is applied to the resulting _ g ~
.~

composite in a like manner as previously hereinabove described.
The formulation of the second wearlayer composition is simi]ar to that composition that forms -the first wearlayer 19. Wet application of the second wearlayer plastisol composition is at a thickness in the xange of from 5 to 20 mils. To obtain maxi-mum visual effect a thickness of from 10 -to 15 mils of wearlayer composition is preferably applied resulting in maximum clarity and thereby exhibiting a sense of depth.
Following application of the second wearlayer plastisol composition, the multi-layer assembly comprising the backing sheet material 11, the pre-gel 13, the first printed pattern layer 19 which may selectively comprise a blowing agent modifier in one or more of the desired printed portions, the first wear-layer 21, which is a translucent or transparent, the second print-ed pattern layer 25 and the second wea:rlayer plastisol composi-tion is then heated to an elevated temperature sufficient to fuse both the pre-gel 13 and the first wearlayer 21 to the second wearlayer plstisol composition forming the second wearlayer 27, which is also a transparent or translucent sheet. Further heat-ing at appropriate temperatures activates the blowing or foaming agent in the pre-gel 13-to initiate the blowing or foaming action.
The temperature of the entire mass must reach the fusion temperature of the resins in order to obtain a product of maxi-mum strength. Using a preferred vinyl chloride polymer or co-polymer, fusion is attained at a temperature of from about 325F.
to about 450F. to produce a final product 29, as illustrated in Figure 3. If modifiers for blowing agent were not incorporat-ed in the first printing ink composi-tion 15 or 17 and embossing and texturing is required this can be accomplished by mechanical techniques.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to techniques for chemical embossing, it is understood by one skilled in the art -that -the same visual effects are achieved by using rotary screen methods of printing. Ra-ther than printing the desired designs with pigmented inks containing the desired decorative particles, the decorative particles may be selectively deposited by rotary screen technique using plastisol formulations containing the desired decorative particles and pigments after application of the first wearlayer and prior to the application of the second wearlayer. This screen printed decoration can be either randomly printed or printed in registra-tion with the base pattern.
The following specific examples will further illustrate the embodiments of this invention. In these examples, all parts given are by weight~
EXAMPLE I
This example relates to the process of using the present invention with rotogravure printing techniques. The following are the formulations for practicing this technique.

Formula No. 1 - Foamable P]astisol Polyvinylchloride Resin (Med. Mol Wt.) - 100.0 parts Zinc Oxide - 1.5 parts Azodicarbonamide - 2.5 parts Dioctyl Phthalate - 55.0 parts Dodecyl Benzene - 10.0 parts Titanium Dioxide - 5.0 parts Formula No. 2 - Clear Layer Formula Polyvinylchloride Resin (High Mol. Wt.) - 100.0 parts Butyl Benzyl Phthalate - 40.0 parts Dodecyl Benzene - 7.0 parts Epoxidized Soya Oil - 5.0 par-ts Stabilizer (Calcium/Zinc Phosphite) - 3.0 par-ts Rotorgravure Ink Formulas No. A No. B No. C
Regular Pearlescent Foam Retarder Vinyl Chloride/
Vinyl Acetate Co-polymer 10 parts 10 parts 10 parts Methyl Ethyl Ketone 75 parts 75 parts 75 parts Pigment Base 15 parts -- 15 parts Fumaric Acid -- -- 10 parts Pearlescent Color -- 10 parts --Note: The concentration of pearlescent color can be varied from

2 to 25 parts depending on the effect desired.
To a web of asbestos flooring felt, .030" thick, apply a uniform layer of foamable plastisol (Formula 1) .015" thick, using a rigid knife coater. Gel the coating by exposure in a hot air oven at an equivalent of 325F. for one minute and cool to room temperature. Following this formation of a pre-gel, apply a first print design to the pre-gel using a rotogravure printer, and color vinyl inks (ink formula A). In areas whereone desires foam retardation an ink (ink formula C) should be used. Follow-ing this procedure the inks should be dried.
Using a reverse roll coater, apply between .010" - .015"
of clear layer plastisol (Formula 2). Gel the clear layer plastisol by exposure in a ho-t air oven at 325~F. for one minute -~J - 12 -and cool to room temperature. Then apply a second printed pattern with a rotogravure prin-ter, using inks con-taining pearlescent coloration s (Ink Formula C). The pearlescen-t ink shou]d -then be dried. Using a reverse roll coater, apply be-tween .010" - .015" of clear vinyl plastisol (Formula 2). Fuse the clear layers and foam the foamableplastisol by exposure in a hot air oven for four minutes at an average temperature of 400F. Upon cooling one will have produced a product with the desired decorative effects.
EXAMPLE II
When using the process of the present invention with rotary screen printing the foamable plas-tisol and the clear layer formulas will be the same as in formulas l and 2. The change will be in the screen printing ink formulas which are:

No. D No. E
Regular Pearlescent Polyvinylchloride (high Mol.Wt.) 100.0 parts 100.0 parts Butyl Benzyl Phthalate 40.0 parts 40.0 parts Dodecyl Benzene 7.0 parts 7.0 parts Epoxidized Soya Oil5.0 parts 5.0 parts Stabilizer (Calcium/Zinc Phosphite) 3.0 parts 3.0 parts Pigment Base 15.0 parts --Pearlescent Color -- 10.0 parts Note: The concentration of pearlescent color can be varied from two to 25 parts, depending on the effect desired.
To a web of asbestos flooring felt, .030" thick apply a uniform layer of foamable plastisol (Formula 1), .015"
thick, using a rigid knife coater. Gel the coating by expo-sure in a hot air oven at an equivalent of 325F for oneminu-te and cool to room temperature. Using a rotary screen printer, print a 5 mil thickness of screen printing plastisol inks (Formula D) in a desired pattern. If multiple screens are used, gel the printed plastisol ink by exposure in a hot air oven a-t 350F. for 30 seconds, then cooling to room tem-perature before the next plastisol ink applica-tion.
Using a rigid knife coater, apply between .010" -.015" of clear layer plastisol (Formule 2). Gel the clear plastisol by exposure in a hot air oven at an equivalent of 350F. for one minute. Cool to room temperature.
Following cooling, print a 5 mil thickness of screen printing plastisol inks containing pearlescent colorations (Formula E) using a rotary screen printer. If multiple screen are used, gel the printed plastisol ink by exposure in a hot air oven at 350F. for 30 seconds. Cool to room temperature before the next plastisol ink applica-tion.
Following the cooling, apply between .010" - .015"
of clear vinyl plasstisol (Formula 2) with a rigid knife coater.
Finally fuse the clear layers and foam the foamable plastisol by exposure in a hot air oven at an average of 400F. for 4 minutes.
~pon cooling one will produce a product with the desired effects.
Numerous modifications and variations of the above disclosed invention are possible in light of the above teachings and therefore, within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced other wise than as particularly des-cribed.

.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A process for manufacturing a surface covering, which comprises:
(a) applying a base design on a substrate;
(b) overlying said base design with a coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material;
(c) selectively depositing in a subsequent design an ink containing decorative particles on said initial coating of said substantially translucent to transparent material;
(d) overlying said subsequent design with a second coating of a substantially translucent to transparent material to form a composite surface covering; and (e) curing said composite of step (d) to form said surface covering.

2. The process for manufacturing a surface covering, which comprises:
(a) applying a base design on a substrate wherein said substrate comprises a sheet material coated with a heat-foamable resinous composition and heated sufficiently to produce a gel layer before printing of the base design and which heat-foamable resinous composition foams during the curing step;
(b) overlying said base design with a coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material;
(c) selectively depositing in a subsequent design an ink containing decorative particles on said initial coating of said substantially translucent to transparent material;
(d) overlying said subsequent design with a second coating of a substantially translucent to transparent material to form a composite surface covering; and (e) curing said composite of step (d) to form said surface covering.

3. The process for manufacturing a surface covering as defined in claim 2 wherein said initial coating of substantially translucent to transparent material is of a thickness of from 5 to 25 mils.

4. The process for manufacturing a surface covering as defined in claim 2 wherein said thickness is preferably 10 to 15 mils.

5. The process for manufacturing a surface covering as defined in claim 2 wherein said second coating of substan-tially translucent to transparent material is of a thickness of 5 to 20 mils.

6. The process for manufacturing a surface covering as defined in claim 2 wherein said thickness of said second coating of substantially translucent to transparent material is preferably 10 to 15 mils.

7. A surface covering, which comprises:
(a) a substrate;
(b) a base design on said substrate;
(c) a coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material overlying said base design;

(d) a subsequent design of an ink containing decorative particles selectively deposited on said substantially translucent to transparent material; and (e) a second coating of a substantially translucent to transparent material overlying said subsequent design to form a composite surface covering.

8. The surface covering as defined in claim 7 wherein said decorative particles are pearlescent or nacreous pigments.

9. The surface covering as defined in claim 7 wherein said decorative particles are metallic flakes.

10. The surface covering as defined in claim 7 wherein said coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material is of a thickness of from 5 to 25 mils.

11. The surface covering as defined in claim 10 wherein said coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material is of a preferred thickness of from 10 to 15 mils.

12. The surface covering as defined in claim 10 wherein said second coating is of a thickness of from 5 to 20 mils.

13. The surface covering as defined in claim 12 wherein said second coating is of a preferred thickness of from 10 to 15 mils.

14. The surface covering as defined in claim 7 wherein said substrate comprises a sheet material coated with a heat-foamable resinous composition, the heat foamable resinous composition upon sufficient heating producing a gel layer before printing of the base design, and the resinous composition foaming during curing.

15. The surface covering as defined in claim 7 wherein said ink containing decorative particles are selectively deposited on said substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material by rotogravure printing techniques.

16. The surface covering as defined in claim 7 wherein said ink containing decorative particles are selectively deposited on said substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material by rotary screen printing techniques.

17. A surface covering, which comprises:
(a) a base design on a substrate wherein said substrate comprises a sheet material coated with a heat-foamable resinous composition, the heat-foamable resinous composition upon sufficient heating producing a gel layer before printing of the base design, and the resinous composition foaming during curing;
(b) a coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material overlying said base design;
(c) A subsequent design of an ink containing decorative particles selectively deposited on said substantially translucent to transparent material; and (d) a second coating of a substantially translucent to transparent material overlying said subsequent design to form a composite surface covering.

18. The surface covering as defined in claim 17 wherein said coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material is of a thickness of from 5 to 25 mils.

19. The surface covering as defined in claim 18 wherein said coating of substantially translucent to transparent non-foamable material is of a thickness of from 10 to 15 mils.

20. The surface covering as defined in claim 18 wherein said second coating of substantially translucent to transparent material is of a thickness of 5 to 20 mils.

21. The surface covering as defined in claim 18 wherein said second coating of substantially translucent to transparent material is of a thickness of 10 to 15 mils.